Cal quarterback Jared Goff sheds Superman cape

BERKELEY -- Cal freshman quarterback Jared Goff has settled into a more efficient rhythm the past three games, throwing eight touchdowns and just two interceptions. He said one reason is his acceptance that he can't leap tall buildings in a single bound.

"Part of it is not trying to be Superman out there, just doing what a quarterback has to do and not trying to make every play on the field," Goff said. "For a little while there I was trying to do too much."

Goff's numbers for the four previous games included just two touchdowns and three interceptions.

"I would get frustrated and think I've got to throw a touchdown here. I realized it and fixed it and that's what's going on the last few games."

Dykes won two of three meetings as coach at Louisiana Tech against MacIntyre's San Jose State squad, although the Spartans prevailed last season.

Then both were involved in the Cal coaching search to replace Jeff Tedford.

"We kind of laughed about that in the offseason a little bit, about the way things work out," Dykes said. "Everybody's mentioned for everything at some point in their career."

Dykes said redshirt freshman linebacker Hardy Nickerson will undergo surgery Friday to repair a Lisfranc injury, which is a fracture to the midfoot. Nickerson will miss spring ball, Dykes said, and be sidelined until about May.

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Junior linebacker Nick Forbes, who was on the field for just a handful of plays in two games due to a bulging disk in his back, said he plans to return next season.

"In my mind I'm playing, the decision's made," Forbes said. "The thing that I don't know is when or if or how I'll stop trying to play. I want to stop when I've reached my full potential as a linebacker."

Forbes said the bulging disk causes pain to shoot down his right leg. He took a painkiller shot during fall camp, but since then has tried to heal the injury with rest and rehab. Doctors told him surgery isn't his best option.

Forbes said he would retire from football only if he reaches the point where he's seeing no hope of progress in his recovery.

In the meantime, he looks forward to next season, when he believes the return to health of defensive end Brennan Scarlett (hand), safety Avery Sebastian (Achilles) and cornerback Stefan McClure (knee) will transform the Bears defense.

"To do this with the new staff and the new era, to be a part of the change and to do it with those guys, it gets me out of that rut when you wake up and you wonder, should I just sleep today," Forbes said. "It's those guys who keep me going."

Dykes said junior Brendan Bigelow, who was moved from running back to slot receiver at midseason, could end up back at running back by next season. Bigelow played both positions last week against USC, running the ball twice for 17 yards.

Bigelow missed spring ball after knee surgery and didn't show explosiveness early in the season at running back. "A lot will depend on the confidence he has in his knee," Dykes said.